Columnist Stephen Black dies unexpectedly

Published: Saturday, August 24, 2013 at 5:56 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, August 24, 2013 at 5:56 p.m.

“It's time to go, and I want to explain why,” Stephen Black wrote in his final column published Feb. 23 in the Times-News.

That was the last time Black would address the readers he often called “dearly beloved.” On Friday morning, Black died unexpectedly.

The beloved columnist had been ill all week, making two trips to the emergency room following the implantation of a new pacemaker, said his wife, Joyce. His wife found him dead Friday morning.

The wordsmith will be missed, friend Jim Hall said.

Black, a Times-News columnist for more than two decades, was witty and outspoken and often got dialogue flowing on hot-button issues.

He once mentioned Hall and a project he was working on in one of his columns. Hall had been reading his column since it began, but had never met Black. The two discussed the column and struck up a friendship. For five years, they've met once a week just to chat.

“We just got to be really good friends,” Hall said on Saturday afternoon. “I'm going to miss him dearly.”

Black did a lot of things in his life. He was a Marine. He was a minister. He also loved a lot of things in life. He loved his family. He loved his dogs. He loved to fight for those he thought needed his help.

He demonstrated that weekly in his column, which Joyce Black said he loved more than any other job he had in life.

“He enjoyed doing that and was proud of his work,” she said.

That work often came with blatant honesty, but almost always with passion. He fought for animal rights and against any corrupting force he could find. In his final column, he told readers that he was inspired to write because he “saw corruption, cronyism and incompetence.” He got fired up when he saw animal abuse, racism, trees being destroyed and a deafening silence about those concerns.

Black decided that he would do something.

“It was time to put up or shut up,” he wrote. “I stepped into the ring. I was scared, but with God's help, I fought against local evil with everything I could muster.”

That was who he was, his wife said.

“He was very honest,” Joyce Black said. “He had his convictions and was true to them.”

Hall agreed.

“A town is lucky to have someone that puts the public concerns in print like that,” he said. “No one can say that Stephen Black didn't do that.”

Black's reason for putting down his pen?

“Every good fighter knows when to step out of the ring, hang up his gloves and go home,” he wrote.” I need to spend more time with the animals and birds, God's special gifts to the earth. Unlike mankind, these blessed creatures are God's best gambles. They even speak with the tongues of angels if we have the ears to hear.”

And his last words to his readers displayed the appreciation he had built up through the years.

“I want to wish every one of my readers all the best,” he wrote. “God bless you and goodbye.”

Aside from his wife, Black is survived by his son, David and daughter, Sarah Black.

A graveside service will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. There will be military honors.

<p>“It's time to go, and I want to explain why,” Stephen Black wrote in his final column published Feb. 23 in the Times-News.</p><p>That was the last time Black would address the readers he often called “dearly beloved.” On Friday morning, Black died unexpectedly. </p><p>The beloved columnist had been ill all week, making two trips to the emergency room following the implantation of a new pacemaker, said his wife, Joyce. His wife found him dead Friday morning.</p><p>The wordsmith will be missed, friend Jim Hall said. </p><p>Black, a Times-News columnist for more than two decades, was witty and outspoken and often got dialogue flowing on hot-button issues. </p><p>He once mentioned Hall and a project he was working on in one of his columns. Hall had been reading his column since it began, but had never met Black. The two discussed the column and struck up a friendship. For five years, they've met once a week just to chat.</p><p>“We just got to be really good friends,” Hall said on Saturday afternoon. “I'm going to miss him dearly.”</p><p>Black did a lot of things in his life. He was a Marine. He was a minister. He also loved a lot of things in life. He loved his family. He loved his dogs. He loved to fight for those he thought needed his help.</p><p>He demonstrated that weekly in his column, which Joyce Black said he loved more than any other job he had in life. </p><p>“He enjoyed doing that and was proud of his work,” she said.</p><p>That work often came with blatant honesty, but almost always with passion. He fought for animal rights and against any corrupting force he could find. In his final column, he told readers that he was inspired to write because he “saw corruption, cronyism and incompetence.” He got fired up when he saw animal abuse, racism, trees being destroyed and a deafening silence about those concerns.</p><p>Black decided that he would do something.</p><p>“It was time to put up or shut up,” he wrote. “I stepped into the ring. I was scared, but with God's help, I fought against local evil with everything I could muster.”</p><p>That was who he was, his wife said.</p><p>“He was very honest,” Joyce Black said. “He had his convictions and was true to them.”</p><p>Hall agreed.</p><p>“A town is lucky to have someone that puts the public concerns in print like that,” he said. “No one can say that Stephen Black didn't do that.”</p><p>Black's reason for putting down his pen?</p><p>“Every good fighter knows when to step out of the ring, hang up his gloves and go home,” he wrote.” I need to spend more time with the animals and birds, God's special gifts to the earth. Unlike mankind, these blessed creatures are God's best gambles. They even speak with the tongues of angels if we have the ears to hear.”</p><p>And his last words to his readers displayed the appreciation he had built up through the years.</p><p>“I want to wish every one of my readers all the best,” he wrote. “God bless you and goodbye.”</p><p>Aside from his wife, Black is survived by his son, David and daughter, Sarah Black. </p><p>A graveside service will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. There will be military honors. </p><p>Reach Millwood at 828-694-7881 or at joey.millwood@blueridgenow.com.</p>